Women demonstrate their economic clout

Errin Haines Whack, Associated Press

March 8, 2017

Photo: Matt Rourke, STF

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Teacher Pia Martin greets students as they arrive to school at the Science Leadership Academy as teachers take part in "A Day Without a Woman" demonstration in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Organizers of January's Women's March are calling on women to stay home from work and not spend money in stores or online to show their impact on American society. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) less

Teacher Pia Martin greets students as they arrive to school at the Science Leadership Academy as teachers take part in "A Day Without a Woman" demonstration in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Organizers ... more

Photo: Matt Rourke, STF

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Ann Freeman holds a sign at the Utah state capitol for a Day Without a Woman protest to remind legislators they're closely watching how they handle women's issues Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) less

Ann Freeman holds a sign at the Utah state capitol for a Day Without a Woman protest to remind legislators they're closely watching how they handle women's issues Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in Salt Lake City. ... more

Photo: Rick Bowmer, STF

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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. center, and other Democratic Congressional members, walk down the steps on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, for an event to honor International Women's Day. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) less

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. center, and other Democratic Congressional members, walk down the steps on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, for an event to honor International ... more

Photo: Susan Walsh, STF

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People gather and listen as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., joined other female Representatives, speak during an event on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, for International Women's Day. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) less

People gather and listen as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., joined other female Representatives, speak during an event on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, for International ... more

Photo: Susan Walsh, STF

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Teachers take part in a "A Day Without A Woman" demonstration outside the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Organizers of January's Women's March are calling on women to stay home from work and not spend money in stores or online to show their impact on American society. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) less

Teachers take part in a "A Day Without A Woman" demonstration outside the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Organizers of January's Women's March are calling on women to stay ... more

Photo: Matt Rourke, STF

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Women dressed in red and holding signs with photos of their local lawmakers are gathered at the Utah state capitol for a Day Without a Woman protest to remind legislators they're closely watching how they handle women's issues Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) less

Women dressed in red and holding signs with photos of their local lawmakers are gathered at the Utah state capitol for a Day Without a Woman protest to remind legislators they're closely watching how they ... more

Photo: Rick Bowmer, STF

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during an event on International Women's day in Ottawa, Wednesday March 8, 2017. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during an event on International Women's day in Ottawa, Wednesday March 8, 2017. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Photo: Adrian Wyld, SUB

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Protesters march with a poster of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte donning horns during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday March. 8, 2017. This women's group is also opposing the revival of the death penalty by the Philippine Congress. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) less

Protesters march with a poster of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte donning horns during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday March. 8, 2017. This women's group is ... more

Photo: Aaron Favila, STF

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Participants march to mark the International Women's Day in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. In Tokyo, some 200 women gathered for a march, protesting against wage disparities, sexual harassment and other challenges that they say still face. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) less

Participants march to mark the International Women's Day in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. In Tokyo, some 200 women gathered for a march, protesting against wage disparities, sexual harassment and other ... more

Photo: Eugene Hoshiko, STF

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A protester wearing a mask joins a rally as they mark International Women's Day in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday March 8, 2017. The women's group is also opposing the revival of the death penalty by the Philippine Congress. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) less

A protester wearing a mask joins a rally as they mark International Women's Day in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday March 8, 2017. The women's group is also opposing the revival of the death penalty by the ... more

Photo: Aaron Favila, STF

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A protester wearing a mask joins a rally as they mark International Women's Day in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday March 8, 2017. The women's group is also opposing the revival of the death penalty by the Philippine Congress. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) less

A protester wearing a mask joins a rally as they mark International Women's Day in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday March 8, 2017. The women's group is also opposing the revival of the death penalty by the ... more

Photo: Aaron Favila, STF

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Participants march to mark the International Women's Day in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. In Tokyo, some 200 women gathered for a march, protesting against wage disparities, sexual harassment and other challenges that they say still face.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) less

Participants march to mark the International Women's Day in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. In Tokyo, some 200 women gathered for a march, protesting against wage disparities, sexual harassment and other ... more

Photo: Eugene Hoshiko, STF

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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. center, and other Democratic Congressional members, walk down the steps on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, for an event to honor International Women's Day. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) less

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. center, and other Democratic Congressional members, walk down the steps on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, for an event to honor International ... more

Photo: Susan Walsh, STF

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A "Fearless Girl" statue went up Wednesday in front of Wall Street's charging bull sculpture. Investment firm State Street Global Advisors installed the statue. An inscription ﻿reads, "Know the power of women in leadership. She makes a difference." ﻿ less

A "Fearless Girl" statue went up Wednesday in front of Wall Street's charging bull sculpture. Investment firm State Street Global Advisors installed the statue. An inscription ﻿reads, "Know the power of women ... more

Photo: Mark Lennihan, STF

Women demonstrate their economic clout

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Many American women stayed home from work, joined rallies or wore red Wednesday to demonstrate how vital they are to the U.S. economy, as International Women's Day was observed with a multitude of events around the world.

In Warsaw, thousands of women showed Poland's conservative government red cards and made noise with kitchenware to demand birth control rights, respect and higher pay.

Germany's Lufthansa airline had six all-female crews flying from several cities to Berlin.

Thousands marched in Istanbul, despite restrictions on demonstrations imposed since last year's failed coup. Turkish police did not interfere.

A crowd of about 1,000, the vast majority of them women, gathered on New York's Fifth Avenue in the shadow of Trump Tower. Women wore red and waved signs reading "Nevertheless she persisted," "Misogyny out of the White House now" and "Resist like a girl."

School in such places as Alexandria, Va., and Chapel Hill, N.C., canceled classes after hundreds of teachers let it be known they would be out. In Providence, R.I., the municipal court closed for lack ofstaff members.

In Washington, more than 20 Democratic female representatives walked out of the Capitol to address a cheering crowd of several hundred people. Dressed in red, the lawmakers criticized efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

In New York, a statue of a fearless girl was placed in front of Wall Street's charging bull sculpture. She appeared to be staring down the animal.

Some criticized the strike, warning that many women cannot afford to miss work or find child care. Organizers asked those unable to skip work to wear red in solidarity.

Monique LaFonta Leone, a 33-year-old health care consultant in Colorado Springs, Colo., had to work but put on a red shirt and donated to Planned Parenthood.

"I have bills to pay, but I wanted to make my voice heard, no matter how quiet," she said.

Trump took to Twitter to salute "the critical role of women" around the world. He tweeted that he has "tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy."

First lady Melania Trump marked the day by hosting a luncheon at the White House for about 50 women.

The White House said none of its female staff members skipped work in support of International Women's Day.